COVER LETTER INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERNSHIP/JOB APPLICATION
Information to include:
1. Business professional approach. Try to keep the email or cover letter to one page.
2. Opening Paragraph: Senior, major in xxxxxxxxxxxx. Graduating in Spring 2014.
o Seeking an internship in xxxxxxx, because focused on a career in pharmaceutical or biotech industry (refer to your marketing plan for industry and inputs)
o Saw your posting (ad in career builder, posting number) for an internship at, and think my coursework and aptitude would make me a good candidate for this position. Outline the industry and how your skills could apply.
3. Paragraph 2: Skills/Qualifications/coursework that applies to the internship requirements (tell the HR manager why you qualify for the position to motivate interest in you). You should sell your job skills, aptitude, and college training here. Develop these inside your marketing plan under a section entitled Messages (features and benefits sales points, similar to a marketing plan for a product.) Also develop specific job titles and develop these selling point statements.
o Bullet points on specific academic courses that apply to the job and industry.
o Bullet point on any job experience that portrays a skill or aptitude.
o One or two bullet points or concise sentences on aptitude and personal motivation skills (from careerleader, kuder, and myers briggs, see marketing plan). I believe these personality and aptitude traits should be briefly mentioned in cover letters, it points out your aptitude and makes you stand out. It is part of your skill set and provides a brief glimpse into who you are and personal development you achieved as a student. Include skills from any jobs you have had. Include career interests, ie marketing. Include coursework that is pertinent.
o A bullet point about the Cameron Executive Network program, your membership, and you are being mentored in business skills, career development, and job search skills. You could even put this in a separate paragraph by itself to call it out.
o How do these skills apply and bring value to the internship. What can you do for them?
4. Close; Last Paragraph. Ask them to consider your academic qualifications and ask for an opportunity to interview with them. Provide primary contact phone and email, and day/times you are available. Tell them you are excited about the opportunity to learn more about the job, the goals for the job, and industry.
5. Attach resume and email/mail the application.
6. Follow up with phone call, then after a week or two, follow-up email.
7. After you apply and either earn interview or not, consider sending an invitation for a networking meeting. Wording to use: Would you have 15 minutes to meet with me and offer advice regarding my career and upcoming job search? Information regarding your industry and the positions that would be suitable to my major and career objective would be helpful. You may be able to provide some networking references in my field of study. This would assist me in identifying appropriate career positions and industries. I can meet you for coffee at, or at your office for a brief 15 minute meeting. Take your resume and a list of questions. Study the industry and products ahead to demonstrate that you have done your research and are interested in the company.
11.10.14
K.S. Behr
JOB APPLICATION/INTERNSHIP COVER LETTER EXAMPLE:
My name is xxxxxxxxxxxxxx and I am a Senior at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, majoring in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. My graduation date is Spring of 2014. In addition to my current studies, I am seeking an internship at PPD (company), because I have focused my career on the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry. I saw your posting on UNCW’s work practice website and would like to apply for the position.
I believe my career interests and business administration/entrepreneurial coursework would make me a good candidate for this position.
· I am being mentored in the Cameron Executive Network student program, and have completed career and job evaluation assessments. This business program has been grooming me in business skills, job preparation, and self-assessments on skills and aptitude. I have a developed understanding of business practices, job expectations, and adding immediate value to an industry.
· Aptitude and interest skillsets pick several that are pertinent to this industry and internship. IE, innovative, influential leader, thrive in entrepreneurial environment, enjoy analyzing marketing or sales data, etc. Mention honors for grades. Pull these from your marketing plan. Develop a section called selling points (features and benefits statements, similar to a product marketing plan).
· Coursework that is relevant, list briefly
I believe that I will delivery immediate value in this internship position because I have proven skills in business startup and development based on work experience and major concentration. I possess excellent leadership skills and interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written. Would you kindly consider my qualifications and offer an opportunity to interview for the internship? My resume is attached. I am available for an interview on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. You can reach me on my cell number, xxxxx. Work availability is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning through May 7. I will be studying abroad from May 27 to June 27, but available for work on June xx. Thank you for your consideration of my qualifications for the internship position, (add job number and date posted).
Sincerely,
Your name that you are going to use in Business
University of North Carolina Business Administration student
Cell:
11.10.14 Revision
Kathy S. Behr, Mentor
COVER LETTER OR EMAIL FOR NETWORKING MEETING REQUEST
- Introduction: name, current status as student or job title.
- Briefly describe current life situation: Market researcher or student seeking job in certain industry or company in my case recently moved to Wilmington from Louisville and exploring business opportunities or position to utilize my marketing research skills from pharmaceutical industry..
- What are you seeking in a career, specific position, or specific company? Keep in mind who you are approaching and their industry, and match your career industry goals appropriately.
- What information do you need from this networking contact?
- Your name was provided to me by xxxxxxx, who stated you are knowledgeable in the area of, and work at xxxxxxx as a xxxxx (job title). This person stated that you would be an excellent source of information on xxxxx.
- Ask for a networking appointment with the objective of learning more about an industry or job position, and obtaining networking recommendations. Would like their advice regarding career options that fit your education and qualifications, industries that they think would be appropriate. Ask for networking referrals, and explain that you are not looking for a job, and that you will send a professional email requesting a 15 minute networking meeting. Ask if they know anyone who could advise you regarding your career path or job search.
- Ask if they would have 15 minutes to half an hour to meet you. Ask what works in their schedule, work hours or after hours, and offer a couple of time slots and coffee shop or lunch locations near their place of work.
EXAMPLE:
Hello, my name is xxxx and I am a senior level student at UNCW, graduating Spring of 2015. My major is Marketing with a minor in French. I am initiating my job search in the area of marketing data analysis or marketing research, and researching appropriate industries that would utilize my degree and career focus. Kathy Behr, a marketing researcher with Bristol-Myers Squibb, met with me recently regarding my career options and she recommended that I speak with you due to your knowledge and experience as a marketing researcher with PPD.
Based on my career assessments and business guidance within UNCW’s Cameron Executive Network program, I am considering a career in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. I am visionary and strategic, and thrive in an entrepreneurial environment. I would like to place my entrepreneurial and business management skills in a position where I would lead a company’s business development, strategic planning or marketing endeavors. My goal would be a position in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company, a business start-up, or a xxxxxxxxxx. I would like to utilize my college degree and interests to contribute to a company’s business endeavors (or goals).
Would you kindly have 15 minutes to network with me regarding my career and industries that would potentially be a good fit for me? The objective would be to review my resume and career objectives and advise me regarding positions or industries that would be a good fit for me. I also want to learn about your position and industry, and how you chose a career. If you know of business colleagues who might be willing to network with me regarding my career, I would send a brief and professional networking email to them. I would like to clarify that I do not expect you or your networking referrals to know of a job, I am simply seeking advice.
I have attached my resume so that you may review my college background prior to our meeting. I am available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 12:00, or after work hours. I could meet you at your convenience at a coffee or lunch shop near your place of work. You may reach me on my cell phone, xxx-xxx-xxxx, or email at xxxxxx.
Sincerely (or kind regards),
Name
Student at UNCW, Cameron School of Business
Cell Phone: